The Brightwood Code, Monica Hesse
The Brightwood Code, Monica Hesse
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

The Brightwood Code

Author: Monica Hesse

Narrator: Saydee Dickinson

Unabridged: 8 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/14/2024


Synopsis

In a breathless, haunting, and rich historical mystery, New York Times bestselling author Monica Hesse speaks to the depths of trauma and the power of memory.

Seven months ago, Edda was on the World War I front lines as one of two hundred “Hello Girls,” female switchboard operators employed by the US Army. She spent her nights memorizing secret connection codes to stay ahead of spying enemies, and her days connecting vital calls between platoons and bases and generals, all trying to survive—and win—a brutal war. Their lives were in Edda’s hands, and one day, in fateful seconds, everything went wrong.

Now, Edda is back in Washington, DC, working as an American Bell Telephone operator, the picture of respectability. But when her shift ends, Edda is barely hanging on, desperate to forget the circumstances that cut her time overseas short. When Edda receives a panicked phone call from someone who utters the fateful code word “Brightwood,” she has no choice but to confront her past. With precious few clues and help only from Theo, a young man bearing his own WWI scars, Edda races to uncover what secrets may have followed her across the ocean.

Timely and unforgettable,The Brightwood Code sheds light on hidden history and the brutality of being a woman in a war built by men.

About Monica Hesse

Monica Hesse is a feature writer for the Washington Post. A finalist for a Livingston and James Beard Award, she is also the author of Girl in the Blue Coat. She lives in Washington, DC.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Kamis on March 26, 2024

4.5 I started this book after work one day, intending to read just a couple of chapters before doing other things. I ended up reading about 85% before I'd even realized it, and decided to push through the last bit before the end of the day. It's been a long time since I've read a full length book in......more

Goodreads review by Andi on March 20, 2024

An Examination of Trauma and Historical Omissions in Monica Hesse's "The Brightwood Code" Monica Hesse's "The Brightwood Code" offers a deftly crafted historical mystery intertwined with a nuanced interrogation of trauma and the systematic erasure of women's wartime contributions. The novel centers o......more

Goodreads review by G.A. on May 19, 2024

3.5* I flew through this book and enjoyed learning about the Hello Girls. Monica Hesse is a great author. I liked the concept and the conflict of the story a lot, but the resolution kind of fell short for me.......more


Quotes

The Brightwood Code has everything I love in a book, an overlooked history woven into a fascinating narrative, and a strong heroine forging her own path forward.” —Stacey Lee, New York Times bestselling author of Reese’s Book Club pick The Downstairs Girl
 

“I finished this book in one sitting, and I still can’t stop thinking about Monica Hesse’s stunning exploration of women’s trauma (and their undervalued roles!) in the First World War. The Brightwood Code is a gripping historical mystery, with powerful feminist themes and a perfectly complex resolution that feel as relevant today as ever.” —Jordyn Taylor, award-winning author of The Paper Girl of Paris, Don’t Breathe a Word, and The Revenge Game
 

“Readers biting their nails over Edda’s fictional journey will come up for air amazed by the real heroism of the Hello Girls. Monica Hesse has a genius for illuminating the darker corners of history with a kaleidoscope of heartbreaking characters and astonishing plot twists.” —Elizabeth Wein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity and Stateless
 

“Engaging writing will have readers racing to discover the secret. A well-researched work that stands out for its explorations of guilt and trauma.”—Kirkus

* "[A] gripping historical thriller." Publishers Weekly, starred review